Michael Washburn
Michael Washburn is Principal at Washburn Consulting and a consultant to HCPA. His other clients include other trade associations, companies and NGOs. His work is focused on EPR education, advocacy and implementation. He is the former VP of Sustainability at Nestle Waters North America and a former senior policy advisor at The Recycling Partnership.
Tuesday December 9
Joint Government Relations Sustainability & Product Stewardship Council Special Session
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Session
Packaging EPR in Practice: Learnings from the Food Industry
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is rapidly shaping the future of sustainable packaging, and the food industry has emerged as a leader in identifying and responding to this trend. This session will examine how the food sector is navigating EPR and explore the practical lessons that can be adapted for the household and commercial products industry.
The panel of experts will feature perspectives from the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, ExxonMobil, the Consumer Brands Association’s SmartLabel, and Ramboll on advances in recycling technologies, consumer communication, and strategies to drive brand growth. Attendees will gain insights into real-world approaches, challenges, and successes in managing packaging responsibility, as well as actionable takeaways for applying similar initiatives in their own organizations.
This session is designed for professionals seeking to learn from the food industry’s leadership and explore ways to accelerate sustainable packaging and EPR initiatives across other sectors.
Moderator:
Michael Washburn, Principal, Washburn Consulting: Sustainability & Public Affairs
Speakers:
Rishi Banerjee, Senior Director of SmartLabel, Consumer Brands Association
Melanie Bower, Regulatory Development Manager at Plastics Circularity, ExxonMobil
Stefani Millie Grant, Associate Director of External Affairs, Unilever
Colin Preston, Managing Partner, Ramboll